Combination handtruck and ladder



April 18, 1961 w. A. KIBBY 2,980,200

COMBINATION HANDTRUCK AND LADDER Filed Nov. 24, 1959 Wz' Z Z iam AZfz' bby A TTOR/VEY COMBINATION HANDTR-UCK AND LADDER" William A. Kibby, 7040 W. Sclwol SL, Chicago 34,111; 7

Filed Nov. 24, 1959', Ser. No. 855,077

10 Claims.- cum-16 This invention relates generally to handtrucks and specifically to hand trucks having. structural features permitting the use thereof as ladders for ascending and descending elevated structures such as truck vehicles and loading platforms. V

One of the objects of the present invention is to. provide a hand truck having a frame structure adapted-for carrying loads and for use as a ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide acombination hand truck and ladder having a light and durable construction. a 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a com-- bination hand truck andladder having'means for actuating the ladder into ladder andnon-ladder positions. v

Another object-.of the invention is to provide a combination hand truckvand ladder structure which can be used as an independently supported ladder. r 0

Other objects of the invention, and advantages achievedthereby will appear from the following, description, reference being made to the drawing, in which-- 2,980,200 Patented Apr. 18, 1961 bent portions 58 affixed suitably to the toe plate 30 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The bent p0rtions58 support a pair of axle support blocks 64 rotatively supporting an axle 66. having mounted thereon at each extremity there-' of rolling means suchas wheels 68 and 70which are suitably maintained thereon.

The skid members 50 and 52 have disposed alongside of each other and aifixed thereto extendible leg members 72. and 74, respect ively, which leg members are maintained in a predetermined disposition with respect to each other by transversely afiixed rung members 76 and 78; The skid members 50 and 52 and'rung members 76 and 78 are preferably made of tubular construction to minimize weight. 7

Referring to Fig. 2, there is disclosed in an enlarged view the construction of the leg member 74 comprising a longitudinal hollow member 80 having a slot 82, longitudinally disposed therein, said slot terminating in an arcuateportion 84; Slidably and rotatively' disposed within the hollow member 80 is an inner element 86,

preferably of tubular construction, which extends beyond" both ends of the leg member 74 and has affixed at one end 87 thereof an adjustable foot member 88.c0mprising I a disk 90 with a rounded bottom. The disk 90 is per-'- manently attached to a threaded member 92 which is screwed into a nut member 94 affixed to the end 87 of theinner element 86. The disposition of the foot 90 with respect to the inner element is securedly maintained byalock nut 96.

The other'end of' the inner "element 86 terminates interiorly thereof in a tapped plug 98 secnred'to said'inner Fig. 1 isan isometric viewshowing the combination I l ofthe hand truck and ladder structure inzits non-ladder position'with the legs withdrawn.

element and adapted to receive a nut 100 for afiixing a lever or knob member 102 to said inner element. The inner element 86 is always biased with respect to the hollow member 80 by; suitable means'such as spring 104. witha washer 106 disposed between said spring and the;

' upper end of the hollow memberfitl;

Referring to Fig. l, the invention comprises an elon-' Q gated frame 20 having a pair of-longitudinal members 22' and 24 generally parallel with respect to each other and" maintained in theirv spatial'arrangement by acurved pork tion 26 which is a continuation of the members 22 and 24: whichhave ends 28; suitably affixed, asby: welding. to a toe member or toe plate 30; The toe plate 30 isarigid;

angular plate, generally L-shaped, andforr'ns at its free end-a lip 32 which is used to be inserted under an object,- such as a crate 34 (Fig. 4) to eifecttransfer of the crate The slidable 'androtative' movements 'of the inner element 86 within the hollow member- 80 are determined by a stud like member'such as a bolt 103 screwed into the inner element and cooperatively movable within' the When the hand truck is used, for transporting crates,.the 'legmembers 72 and 74are in withdrawnipositions, i.'e.' non-ladder'position, as disclosedin Figs. 1, 2 and 4, so

as not to "interfere with thenorm-al use of the hand truck;

the non ladder position; the spring104 maintainsathe inner element 86 in a withdrawn position asdetermine'd by the bolt 108*in its uppermost position in the slot 82.

Of course, if preferable, the withdrawn position {of the" inner element 86 need not be limited by the'position of the belt 108; the limit of the withdrawn position would onto the hand truck-and subsequently to hold thecrate during transportation. The members 22 and 24 are'ffur ther braced by transverse-members 36, 38'and 40, which; are preferably afiixed by welding. A pair ofhandles 42; and. are afiixed' to the longitudinal members 24 and 22; respectivelyat the uppere'nd'fon the frame 20 nearK the region" of thercuryed' portion 26. The'longithdinallf and the transverse members'arevpreferablyof maria,

construction. Although the two longitudinal members 22 and 24 are shown' as being formed from;..a;unitary constructionjit should be u der stoodthat'fthe frame may be constructed; of "=twc' separate longitudinal members joined together by welding'as at a point .46.

- Additionalilflexural 'and torsional. stability en' tothe frame lilby an extendible'ladder structure 4'8forrnihg part 'ofbsaid -frame. The'ladder structure 'cbmprise's a pairof angularly shaped skid members 50 and 52hav- It will be" noted; th'a'tithe"-ciisposition' of the leg-Linen:

) bCISfiS angular. withrespect toframe'ziiso'as toform a I acute angle-therewith of ap I Ximatelyfl'StL- The sup, fiport basisfor the ladderposition" ofthehand'truck isf to ex'tend the length of .the l e'gmernberr'72'. Duringthe foregoing" movement, the'bolt 108 .slides'downwardly in j then be determined by the obtrusionof the nut member" 94'against the end of the hollow memberliil. 7

When the hand truck is to be used as a ladder to per- 7 mi-t a truck-driver to ascend onto thetail gate of'a truck vehicle; the hand-truck is placed in a vertical *position', .so that it issupp'orted bvitstoe plate 30' as shown in Fig; 3 and a downward force is applied by han'clto each of thelever members 1 102m compress the spring104" and move the inner element 86 ina downw'arddirection the slotj82 until the limit is reached] at vwhich time a rotative movementisapplid by handto-move the bolt 7' 7 into the arcuate portion 84 of, the" slotj8 2 (see Fig; -2)@ t'0ja locked position. handrtruck is show'n'in' ladder:

position in Fig.3.

' thereby facilitate mounting thereof. The skid member 50 and 52 in addition to providing rigidity to the frame 20 also serve as means for the use of the hand truck in moving crates on a stairway whereinduring movement of the hand truck from one step of the stairway to another step, the load is temporarily supported by .said skid members resting on the step. I

Although the foregoing description sets out in detailed manner the nature of the present invention, it is to be understood that the constructional featuresmay be varied without departing from the scope or spirit of .the invention claimed.

I claim: r a 1. A two wheel hand truck in combination with a ladder arrangement comprising a frame made of longitudinal members maintaining a. fixed position to each other through attached transverse members, the frame having handles at one end thereof and a toe plate at the other end thereof, an extendible ladder structure comprising a pair of angular skid members affixed to the longitudinal members and forming means for mounting a pair of wheels adjacent the toe plate, a pair of leg members attached to the skid members and forming an acute angle with the longitudinal members, a plurality of rung members transversely bracing the leg members, said leg.

members including interiorly housed, slidably disposed inner elements terminating at their lower extremities in foot members extending beyond the leg members, and means for controlling the amount of extension of the foot members with respect to the toe plate to establish a sup port base in conjunction with the toe plate, said support base permitting the use of the hand truck in its substantially vertical position as a mounting device.

2. The two wheel hand truck as claimed in claim 1, said control means including studs attached to the inner elements and extending through slots in the leg members, said slots terminating at one end thereof in arcuate portions to engage the studs in ofl-set positions, the inner elements having the other ends thereof extending beyond the leg members at the other ends thereof, lever members attached to said other ends of the inner elements for slidably and rotatively moving the inner elements within the leg members, and biasing elements disposed on theiinner elements between the lever members and the leg members for maintaining theinner elements and their associated foot members in a withdrawn, non-ladder, position. a

3. A combination ladder and hand truck comprising an elongated frame having at one end thereof a toe member and supported thereat by rolling means and handles at the other end thereof to facilitate movement of the hand truck, an extendible ladder structure attached; to and forming part of the frame and disposed to adapt, in conjunction with the toemember, the hand truck in its sub- I stantially vertical position for ascent purposes, means for actuating the extendible ladder structure to its ladder position and to its non-ladder position, the ladder structure comprising a pair of longitudinal hollow members spatially disposed substantially parallel to each other and angularly with respect to the frame, a pair of inner longitudinal members slidably and rotatively disposed inside the hollow members, said inner members extending be-- yond the ends of the hollow members, a pair of feet ad justably afiixed to the ends of the inner members adjacent the rolling means, said actuating means being normally biased by spring means to maintain the feet in '2,aso,aoo

4. A two-wheel hand truck comprising a frame of two'- tubular members spatially disposed alongside of each other and transversely braced by cross-members, said tubular members having handles affixed thereto near one: end thereof and a toe plate affixed thereto at the other ends thereof, a pair of extendible support members in-- dividually associated with each tubular member andaftixed angularly thereto to form an'acute angle therewith, said support members being braced to each other by transverse rung members, and means for effecting ex-- tension of the support members with respect to the toe: plate to effect in conjunction therewith an upright standing position of the hand truck, said support members comprising outer tubular members slidably housing therein individually movable inner tubular members extending outwardly at both ends of the outer tubular members, the ends of the inner tubular members terminating adjacent the toe plate in foot portions and the other ends terminating in knob members, a catch member for setting the position of the inner member with respect to the outer member in at least two positions, and a spring member for maintaining a biased relationship between the outer and inner tubular members.

5. A two-wheel hand truck as claimed in claim 4, said foot portions having disk-like members with rounded surfaces and individually adjustable with respect to their associated inner members for establishing the initial extension of the extendible support members.

6. A combination ladder and hand truck comprising an elongated frame terminated at one end thereof in handle meansand at the other end thereof in a toe plate in adjoining disposition to rolling means, ladder means rigidly affixed to said frame and providing structural support thereto, said ladder means having members extendible substantially to the plane passing through the toe plate to form a ladder base, and further means to additionally extend the members with respect to the toe plate.

7. A combination ladder and hand truck as claimed in claim 6, said ladder means comprising hollow members telescopically housing said extendible members, and said further extendible means comprising a pair of feet adjustably afiixed to the extremities of each extensible members. i

8. A combination ladder and hand truck as claimed in claim 7, including means for locking said extendible members and said feet.

9. A ladder structure for use with a hand truck frame for-converting same for use as a ladder device, said frame having a pair of longitudinal members supporting a pair of skid members, said ladder structure being adapted for mounting between said skid members and comprising a pair of extendible leg members spatially disposed with respect to each other and supporting therebetween a plurality of rung members rigidly aflixed to said leg members,'means for attaching the leg members to said skid members, means for extending said legmembers to form a ladder base in conjunction with one extremity of the withdrawn, non-ladder, positionto permit movement of. 1

I the hand truck during normal use. g

frame, and means for adjustably extending the leg members. with respect to said extremity of said frame.

10. A ladder structure as claimed in claim 9, includ-,'

ing means for locking said leg members in the extended position and means for locking said adjustably extending means. i p

A References Cited in" the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,485,461 Wysocki Nov. 15, 1949 2,630,961 I Burg Mar. 10, 1953 2 792233 Stackhouse May 14, 1957 j FOREIGN PATENTS Y A 452,185 1 ,..Great;Britain Aug.18,1936 

